Fluid applicator



y 1942- A. J. KOLLMANN FLUID APPLICATOR Filed April 28, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fill"!!!'Il'l'illlllllllfll M y 1942- A. J. KOLLMANNFLUID APPLICATOR Filed April 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5,1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID APPLICATOR August .1. xoumami,New York, N. Y. Application April 28, 1941, Serial No. 390,801

10 Claims.

The invention relates to means for applying coating to surfaces such aswalls, floors, paper and other materials, and has for an object toenable the application of liquid coatings under pressure directed to thesurfaces to be coated, with a minimum liability of waste of the coatingmaterial, and deposit thereof accidentally on adjacent surfaces orobjects not intended to be coated.

A further aim is to provide a novel means for controlling the flow oicoating liquid to a tool of the character described. A still furtherobject is to provide a novel manual support device for such a tool bywhich it may be manipulated for direct contact of the tool with surfacessuch as walls and ceilings.

A further important aim oi the invention is to present a novel form ofextension handle construction for the tool.

An important aim of the invention is to enable the utilization of aporous roller applicator while at the same time minimizing liability ofimpairment of the functions of the device by drying out or caking ofcoating material in or from the roller and the duct passages for whichthe coating material is supplied thereto.

Another important object is to present a novel improvement in theconstruction of a roller applicator for the uses described, as well as anovel mounting therefor, enabling the ready removal and cleaning of theroller.

Additional objects, advantages and featuresof invention reside in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is avertical section partly in elevation of an applicator device, includinga handle frame, applicator roll, and fluid supply connection and controltherefor.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view a Figure 6 is a fragmentaryside elevation of a modified form of roller.

Figure 7 is a perspective viewof aholder and sealing means for thedevice when not in use.

There is illustrated a coating tool, suitable for use in painting walls,iloors, and other surfaces.

as well as applying other coating materials, and consisting of acombined mounting frame and duct l0, consisting of a main rectilinearshank portion il, shown extending vertically in Figure 1, from which alateral arm 12 extends a distance, a vertical short extension It beingformed at the outer part thereof, on which a T-head i4 is formed, asshown. All of these parts are hollow, forming a substantially continuousduct, and at the lower end of the shank II a hose coupling I5 isprovided, by which a supply of coating liquid under pressure may beconnected to the end of the shank, to be fed therethrough and theremainder of the frame, as will appear. At the lower side of the lateralarm I! in line with the upward extension |3,a gland device It isprovided, through which a needle valve I1 is slidable, into theextension l3 and arranged to coact with a ported seat I! mounted in theextremity of the extension just short of the cross head or T piece H.The outer end of the valve I1 is threaded and has adjustably engagedthereon a knurled nut 19, by which it may be adjusted with respect tothe seat It, as may be required. Pivoted on the under side of the arm l2of the irame, there is a lever 20 of the first order, one arm of whichis apertured or furcated and receives the needle valve i1 therethroughwith the nut I! at the outer side of the lever, the fulcrum or thislever being a conventional pivot between ears 2| located on the underside of the arm l2 midway between the gland It and shank ll. At theopposite end of the lever from the needle valve, a plunger 22 ispivotally connected there to, and extended longitudinally besidetheshank ll through a guide piece 23 a distance, the uide being fixed onthe shank H, and the plunger being extended into close p oximity to aandl grip 2t fixed on the lower end of the shank just short of the hosecoupling IS. The lower end of the plunger 22 is pivotally connected to alever 22' which is fixed upon a shaft 22a rockably supported in arms 22bor a clamplcollar 22c fixed upon the shank II. The shaft 22a has afinger piece 25 adjacent the grip, so that it may be manipulated by thethumb or forefinger of the hand by which the grip 24 s gr ped. Aprotractile helical spring 26 is engaged loosely around the plunger 22interposed between the guide 23 and collar 21. In order that the valveI! may be adjusted and locked in a set position, a binding screw and nut28 is provided, the screw being extended through a slot 28' of a bracket28a, the nut being manually released and tightened for adjustment of thevalve openin This spring serves to thrust the plunger downwardly, andthereby moves the valve II to its seat yieldable to finger pressure uponthe finger-piece 25.

In addition to the hand grip 24 around the lower end of the shank ll,a-laterally extending grip 29 is mounted on the side of the shank adistance above the grip 24, and extending from the shank in a directionoppositeto that in which the arm I2 of the frame is extended, so thatthe arm I2 and the grip 29 are in a common plane coincident with theshank The grip 29 is removable for attachment to an extension red,

the shaft, and having a large head fitted over the end of the cross headI4. so as to close the same and to draw the shaft into the headproperly. A lock screw 30 is also employed to hold the shaft. The shaft3| extends from the opposite end of the head I 4 for a substantialdistance, and has 'revolubly mounted thereon an applicator roll to bedescribed. A port 33 is formed in the side of the shaft, immediatelyadjacent the needle valve seat l8, to receive liquid passing the valveso that such liquid may flow longitudinally outward along the shaft 3|.The shaft is also provided with a series of openings 34, at properintervals throughout its length. The openings progressively increasingin size, so that an equal distribution of liquid will be inherent. Aroller is provided, consisting of a foraminate tube 36, suflicientlylarge to lie in spaced relation to the shaft 3|, and mounted in thistube at each end there are respective bearings 31 of a suitable kind,which may include packing means to guard the bearings against access ofcoating materials from the shaft 3|, as indicated at 33. The outerbearing includes a sleeve element 39, bored to rotatably flt upon theend portion of the shaft 3 I, and the interior of the bearing 31 isthreaded and receives a gland 4| engaged therein with the head extendedover the end of the sleeve 39, so as to retain the roller assembly uponthe shaft 3|. At the inner end of the tube 36, a circular flange 42 isformed concentrically therearound,

of substantial material and fixed rigidly and permanently in place onthe assembly. At the outer end of the roller assembly, a correspondingannular flange 43 is provided securely held be-- tween the sleeve 39 andthe gland 4|. A large headed screw 4| is threadedly engaged within theshaft 3| for maintaining the roller assembly on the shaft.

A large cylindrical screen body 44 is provided. of a lengthapproximately that of the foraminate tube 36 at its end fittings, andbeing of a diameter slightly greater than that of the flanges 42 and 43,the two latter flange elements being of the same diameter as shown. Thespace between the foraminate tube 36 and the outer screen 44' is packedwith Monel strands or other suitable material of a non-corrosivecharacter, and preferably consists of strands of a course structure asindicated at 45 and an outer portion of finer strands as indicated at45'. The outer screen 44 is greater length than that of the screen body44 and held by the outer edges of the flanges 42 and 43. The size of theflanges in relation to the screen is such that the flanges will bind theinturned edge portions of the fabric sleeve against the inner surfacesof the screen, so that the fabric is held securely in place and leakageof coating material out through the end of the roller prevented.

In the present instance, the body 44 is shown as made up of a pluralityof sections indicated at S, and by this arrangement it will be apparentthat any suitable number of sections may be mounted upon a given lengthof shaft 3|, permitting the assembly of long or short applicatorrollers. Also this construction permits ready renewable of the sections,as will be apparent.

The device as thus described, is adapted for use, as will be readilyunderstood, when the operator can come into close proximity to thesurfaces to be coated. The shank portion may, of course, be elongated tosuch extent as may be required in case it is desired to enable the useof the roller against the ceiling while the operator stands upon thefloor below, or to enable the operator to roll the roller from the lowerpart of a wall to the upper part thereof adjacent the ceiling. However,in order to avoid the necessity for separate tools for high and lowwork, I have provided means for attaching an extension handle to thedevice, as will now be described.

It will be noted that the handle 29 is formed with an interiorly'threaded sleeve on its inner end which is screwed upon a short stud 50,fixed upon the shank of the tool, a distance below the arm l2. At alevel closely adjacent the base of the arm l2, a second stud 5| isformed, these two studs being exteriorly threaded. A plate 52 ofelongated form is provided, having apertures therein to receive thestuds and 5|, respectively, and the plate is held upon the stud bysuitable nuts engaged upon the stud. The plate is formed with a socket55 at its lower end, in which there is insertable a pole handle 56 atthe lower end of which there is a handle 51, a lug 58 similar to thelugs 50 and 5| being provided upon the side of the pole a distance abovethe handle. the last named stud being adapted to receive the handle 59in the same manner that the latter is shown engaged upon the stud 50.The pole 56 may be secured in the socket 55 in any suitable way. Inorder to enable the operation of the lever 20 from the more distanthandle 51, a crank device 60 is mounted oscillatably upon the pole 56adjacent the handle 51, having a grip lever 6| located adjacent thehandle 51 and adapted to be compressed by the finger or the thumb of thehand in which the handle 51 is grasped, the crank device including acrank arm 62 connected by a link 63 to a lever 64 pivoted on the upperend of the plate 52, in a plane parallel to that of the lever 20, thelever 64 being pivoted on the plate 52 at the side of the shank oppositethe lever 20, and extending beside the shank II and therebeyond, so asto lie adjacent an inner part of that end of the lever 20 which isconnected to the plunger 22. The lever 64 is provided with a lateralwiper roll or the like 64', arranged to engage against the under side ofthe lever20, so that when the link 63 is drawn downwardly, the lever 64and its wiper will press upwardly against the lever 20 and so causeopening of the valve Closure of the valve will be attained by the spring26, as before described.

In the use of this device, a suitable coating liquid being available inan adequate supply under pressure, it is led to the shank through anyusual hose coupled at I5, and allowed to pass through the hollow framel0 and past the valve I1, through the shaft 3|, and tube 36, into themass of strands 4i and 45' through which it iscaused to becomedistributed and to pass outwardly through the screen 44. The screen andthe strands are of such nature that the coating liquid becomes uniformlydistributed throughout the sleeveand exudes from the external surfacethereof as long as the valve I1 is kept open, but with propermanipulation of the valve the coating does not become discharged andseparated from theroller, but becomes uniformly distributed therein, sothat it may be deposited upon any surface to which the roller isapplied.

On this account, the coating liquid may be applied to a surface byrolling the roller thereagainst, so that the roller travels upon suchsurface, while rotating 'upon the shaft 3|. tain amount of liquid may beso applied even when the valve I1 is closed. as long as there is aproper supply of coating liquid in the roller. The screen device 44 is,to a considerable extent, flexible and yieldable, so that the Monelstrands within the screen may be compressed at various parts, and theliquid contents caused thereby to become extruded through the screensleeve on the surface of the roller. In consequence, a slight momentaryvariation in the openings afforded by the valve II will not causeinequalities of thickness of coating applied, and the operator may, veryreadily, maintain a proper supply of fluid in the roller by observingthe quantity of coating deposited, from time to time.

The expert operator will, of course, quickly learn the proper positionof the needle to apply the liquid with the available pressure in suchquantities as to properly accommodate the deposit of coating in properaccord with the rate of movement of the roller upon the surfaces coated.

After the tool has been used and it is desired to preserve it incondition for further use at a later time, I have provided an elongatedcylindrical receptacle G5, slightly larger in interior diameter than theexternal diameter of the roller A cer- 35, and somewhat longer. Thereceptacle ism ade of two complemental semi-circular sections, hingedtogether as at 66, one section having brackets 81 for mounting upon awall or the like. Each section is provided with semi-circular opening 68adapted to embrace the head portion H when closed thereabout, and ifdesired a suitable packing 69 may be employed to secure an air-tightfit. Any suitable catch I0 may b employed so as to retain the sectionsin closed relationship. When the sections are in closed position uponthe tool, the latter will be supported as well asmaintain the rollersealed against air and foreign matter.

A pressure gauge II is mounted on the upward extension I3 of the hollowframe, so that the,

user of the'tool may be fully informed of the proper supply of coatingliquid to the tool, and may also determine the adjustment of the valveI1 by the degree of pressure registered.

If desired, a number of hose clamp devices 12 may be provided on thepole extension 56, adapted to releasably hold the hose II by which thecoating liquid is conveyed to the coupling l5 and hollow frame Hi.

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a modified form of the applicator roll,which will be found practical where two or more stripes are to be drawnalong a surface. This is accomplished in the provision of individualroll sections ll held in spaced relation by spacer blocks 15, the latterbeing of less diameter than the roll sections.

While I have shown and described specifically material, means to supportthe roller revolubly including a manipulating handle by which the rollermay be applied to surfaces to be coated, and means to supply liquidcoating material to the interior of the roller for feeding therethrough.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said roller includes an inner bodyof metal textiles, and an enclosing sleeve of closely woven fabric, and

means to close the ends of the roller against egress of coating liquid.

.3. The structure of claim 1 in which said roller and mounting include ahollow shaft having a multiplicity of perforations longitudinallythereof, a foraminate tube spaced concentrically to said shaft andlongitudinally spaced bearings between the shaft and tube, and meanson'said 'foraminate tube at each end to grip the end portions of saidfabric continuously and constituting a closure between said 'foraminatetube and said fabric at a distance from the tube.

, 4-. The structure of claim 1 in which said roller consists of ahollowduct shaft, 9. foraminate tube spaced concentrically therearound,longitudinally spaced bearings between the tube and shaft. said shafthaving a multiplicity of openings therethrough spaced longitudinallythereof, a cylindrical screen in contact relation to the tube, a packingof metal textiles between the tube'and screen, the ends of the screenbeing near the ends of the tube, a closely woven metal fabric engagedover the screen and having its ends'inturned a distance, and flangemembers on the tube, engaged against the inturned ends of the fabric topress the same against the inner' surfaces of said screen, for thepurposes described.

5. In an article of the character described, a roller and mountingconsisting of a hollow duct frame having a T head thereon, "a stud shaftmounted in the head.) said shaft being hollow, foraminate and ported forcommunication with the duct in said frame, a screw engaged in the shaftat one end of said T head, a roller of resilient metallic textilematerial engaged revolubly on said shaft, means to hold therollerreleasably on the shaft, means to supply coating liquid to said hollowframe, and a manually operable valve for controlling flow of said shaft.

6. In an article of the character described, a roller and mountingconsisting of a hollow duct frame having a T head thereon, a stud shaftmounted in the head, said shaft being hollow, foraminate and ported forcommunication with the duct in said frame, a screw engaged in the shaftat one end of said T head, a roller of .resilient metallic textilematerial engaged revolubly on said shaft, means to hold the rollerreleasably on the shaft, means to supply coating liquid to the hollowframe, and a manually operable valve for controlling flow of said liquidto said shaft, said frame comprising a body shaft portion, a lateral armand a longitudinal extension parallel to the shank axis, a T head onsaid extension having said shaft fixed therein, said means to controlthe flow of liquid to said shaft consisting of a ported member adjacentsaid liquid to the shaft, at the end of said extension, a needle valveslldable in said extension and having a head portion exposed at theunder side of said lateral arm, a lever 01 the first order pivotedintermediately on said arm and having one end engaged with said valve, aplunger longitudinally slidable on the shank and a spring device engagedwith the plunger under tension tending to move the plunger to positionto close said valve, yieldable to manual operation of the plunger.

7. In a tool of the character described, an applicator roll and mountingconsisting of a support frame, a hollow duct stud shaft mounted fixedlythereon, means to supply coating liquid to the interior of said shaft, aforaminate tube spaced around the shaft, bearings between the tube andshaft spaced longitudinally, annular flanges at respective ends of saidtube, a cylindrical screen of larger diameter than the flanges arrangedaround said tube, a woven fabric metallic sleeve engaged over the screenand having its end portions inturned beyond the ends of the screenbetween respective flanges and the screen, said flanges being spacedwithin the screen to bind against said end portions of the fabric and toform closure heads for the roller, and a mass of resilient metallictextile material between said screen and foraminate tube.

8. A coating tool of the character described comprising a roller ofresilient metallic textile material, means to support the rollerrevolubly including a manipulating handle by which the roller may beapplied to surfaces to be coated, a grip handle on the manipulatinghandle extended at right angles thereto, and means to supply liquidcoating material to the interior of the roller for feeding therethrough.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which the grip handle is positioned inadvance of the manipulating handle.

10. A coating tool of the character described comprising a roller ofresilient metallic textile material, means to support the rollerrevolubly, studs projected from said means, a manipulating handle onsaid means, means for supplying a liquid coating material to theinterior of the roller for feeding therethrough including a valve,manual means on the manipulating handle for actuating the valve, themanual means including a spring normally closing said valve, and anextension handle mounted on said studs, said extension handle havingmanually operable means complemental to the valve for controllingoperation thereof against the action of said spring.

AUGUST J. KOLLMANN.

